37,000 letters are being mailed out to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny tried to douse some of the growing fires by letting the 37,000 letter recipients know that the Senate has no intention of passing a budget that cuts their programs.
Western Global Airlines will invest three million dollars in a new facility in Shreveport, which could lead to 170 direct jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that an additional 308 new jobs will be created by the facility run by the Florida based company. Secretary Don Pierson says the state will pitch in a million dollars in maintenance repair, because it’ll help put people back to work who lost their jobs when Continental Express Jet left the city.
Two medical marijuana bills passed the Senate with amendments and are headed to the House. One bill would add additional categories, such as PTSD to the already existing list diseases medical marijuana is eligible to treat, and the other would allow the treatment to be given to autism patients
Houma Senator Norby Chabert says allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed to more illnesses is a first step in combating the opioid crisis.
He closed with an impassioned plea to Senators who were on the fence.
Governor John Bel Edwards will be holding a news conference this morning at 11 a.m. in Lafayette at the UHC Medical center. , the governor and other speakers will discuss the looming fiscal cliff and deep cuts to health care in the current budget bill passed by the House of Representatives, including the impact they will have on partner hospitals like UHC.